Best Dental Colleges in Kerala - Fees, Admission 2026, Fees, Placements

Government dental colleges in Kerala charge very low fees. Since seats are limited and demand is high, the NEET cutoff for these colleges is usually higher. Many students prefer them for cost savings and strong clinical training. This pushes competition up every year. A good NEET score improves your chances significantly. Private colleges become the backup option for many students.

Dental colleges do not offer campus placements like engineering colleges. Most students do the internship in the college hospital. After that, they join clinics or study MDS. The Manipal name helps when you look for jobs. Some students also prepare for licence exams abroad. Your skill matters most.

Kerala offers more than 2,000 BDS seats across all its colleges. This includes seats from both government and private colleges. Government colleges alone offer around 300 seats in total. The remaining seats come from the 20 private dental colleges in the state. This gives Kerala one of the higher seat counts among Indian states. 

You still need to qualify NEET UG. Seats go through MCC counselling for deemed universities. A low score may still get a seat in some years. Fees for such seats can be very high. Never pay anyone outside the official process.

The Amrita School of Dentistry's admissions procedure is entirely merit-based.

The results of the #neet-mds exam and past academic achievements are crucial criteria in the selection process. For the applicants for admission, a shared counseling session will be organized.

On the day of admission, candidates are urged to bring their original paperwork, a demand draft, and their confirmation letter from the online admission process.

Without the original documents, candidates will not be permitted to enroll in the college.The Amrita School of Dentistry Fee Structure is available on the official website for candidates to review.

The Dental Council of India must acknowledge the BDS degree earned by the candidate.

For the programme to accept the applicant, they must pass the National Eligibility Completion Entrance Test (NEET).

As per the popularity basis by shiksha, listed beloware some of the top Dental colleges in Kerala, along with their tuition fees.

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee
Amrita School of Dentistry	INR 30,000 - INR 42 lakh
Government Dental College, Trivandrum	INR 1.07 Lacs - INR 1.56 lakh
Government Dental College, Kozhikode	INR 83,360 - INR 1.56 lakh
Pushpagiri Group of Institutions	INR 13.24 Lacs - INR 25.5 lakh
Mar Baselios Dental College	INR 13.24 Lacs - INR 25.5 lakh

There are about 29 Dental colleges in Kerala, including private and government colleges. Some of the top colleges are Amrita School of Dentistry, Government Dental College Trivandrum, Government Dental College Kozhikode, Pushpagiri Group of Institutions, Mar Baselios Dental College, Noorul Islam College of Dental Sciences,  etc.. Admissions to these colleges happens through NEET, and KEAM entrance exam basis. For PG courses, studentws must clear NEET MDS exam. 

Yes, several government scholarships are available for BDS students in Kerala. These are usually based on category, income, or merit. Some private colleges also offer their own scholarship or fee-waiver schemes. Reserved category students may get additional financial support from the state. It's a good idea to check both college-level and government scholarship options. Applying early usually helps with approval timelines.

Yes, many BDS graduates in Kerala go on to pursue MDS for specialisation. Popular MDS branches include orthodontics, oral surgery, and prosthodontics. Some students also study abroad after completing their BDS degree. Higher studies can open doors to better-paying and specialised roles. A strong academic record during BDS helps with MDS admission. Many colleges in Kerala also offer MDS programs on the same campus.

Noorul Islam College of Dental Sciences offers Degree courses including 1 UG and 2 PG courses. These programs are offerred in Full Time mode. Noorul Islam College of Dental Sciences has specializations such as MDS specializations in Orthodontics .

Some colleges are genuinely worth the investment because of their reputation, facilities, and placement support. Higher fees at such recognised colleges often pays off through better training and career opportunities later.

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee	Median Salary Package
SDM College of Dental Sciences Placements	INR 3.8 lakh	INR 4.8 LPA
Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital Placements	INR 16 lakh	INR 8.8 LPA
Yenepoya Dental College And Hospital, Mangalore Placements	INR 20.3 lakh	INR 6 LPA
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies Placements	INR 12.2 lakh	INR 3.9 LPA
Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research Placements	INR 17.4 lakh	INR 7.8 LPA

Specialization is not mandatory after completing a general Dental course. Graduates can practice as general dentists immediately after earning their degree and completing required internships.

However, pursuing a specialisation in areas like orthodontics, prosthodontics, or oral surgery can enhance career prospects, increase earning potential, and allow dentists to handle more complex cases. It is a choice based on career goals rather than a requirement.

The top skills that employers look for in Dental course graduates are:

• Strong clinical proficiency

• Effective patient communication

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Knowledge of the latest dental technologies

• Ability to work under pressure

• Ethical and professional conduct

• Teamwork and collaboration

Yes, Dental graduates can explore careers in healthcare administration. Roles may include managing dental clinics, hospital departments, or public oral health programs.

Administrative positions require a combination of dental knowledge and management skills. Graduates can contribute to policy-making, patient management systems, quality control, and training programs while supporting the broader healthcare infrastructure.

Yes, Indian School of Technology and Management is a good college. ISTM gives online programmes. For easy online learning, there is LMS to carry e-resources, video lectures, and download assignments.

Government Dental College, Kottayam has courses such as MDS, BDS to offer. These courses are in the stream of Medicine & Health Sciences. Government Dental College, Kottayam has specializations such as MDS specializations in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Oral Pathology , Orthodontics , Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Public Health.

Azeezia College of Medical Sciences and Research has received an impressive review rating of 3 on Placements based on 3 feedback of verified Shiksha students.

At KMCT Dental College median salary for MDS course is INR 5.93 LPA. Also KMCT Dental College has earned a remarkable review rating of 4 based on student feedback. Furthermore, it has received ratings of 4 for Placements.

MES Dental College has a Faculty review rating of 4 by students. This represents that Institute has decent, qualified and experienced faculty members.

Courses offered by Government Dental College, Thrissur are BDS. These courses are in the stream of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Courses offered by Al-Azhar Dental College, Thodupuzha are BDS. These courses are in the stream of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Some medical field which offer best work and life balance are shown below -

• Dentistry (BDS & MDS) – Fixed clinic hours, fewer emergencies.

• Pharmacy (BPharm & MPharm) – Less stress compared to hospital-based jobs.

• Physiotherapy (BPT & MPT) – Flexible working hours, minimal emergency calls.

• Public Health & Community Medicine – Focus on preventive healthcare rather than emergency treatments.

• Clinical Research & Medical Writing – Research-based work with no direct patient responsibilities.

Admission to Government Dental College, Alappuzha, is based on NEET and CEE Kerala. Students who are interested for admission to the BDS at the Government Dental College must appear and qualify in the respective entrance exam. Then they can apply for admission.

The seats availability for offered courses at P.S.M. College of Dental Science and Research goes up to 115. Courses offerred by P.S.M. College of Dental Science and Research are approved by eminent Government bodies such as DCI.

Annoor Dental College has a Faculty review rating of 4 by students. This represents that Institute has decent, qualified and experienced faculty members.

Royal Dental College is a well-known institution for MDS, BDS courses, and these programs are delivered by highly experienced faculty. Royal Dental College has course specializations in Endodontics, Periodontology, Orthodontics , Prosthodontics, Oral Pathology .

Sri Sankara Dental College Varkala provides programmes including MDS, BDS in streams such as Medicine & Health Sciences, and are excellent for students to build their careers. The institute has specializations in Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Orthodontics .

The seats availability for offered courses at Kannur Dental College goes up to 119. Courses offerred by Kannur Dental College are approved by eminent Government bodies such as DCI.

The seats availability for offered courses at Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences goes up to 115. Courses offerred by Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences are approved by eminent Government bodies such as DCI.